“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Eph 4:16 (NIV)
Are you on a path of obtaining Christlikeness? Are you progressing in your faith? We have been examining habits from our spiritual toolbox. Here’s a recap of four of the five habits.
- Habit #1: A daily intake of God’s Word
- Habit #2: A daily practice of meeting with God in prayer
- Habit #3: A vital connection to other growing believers
- Habit #4: A practical application of my faith in daily life
These habits focus upward and inward. Now let’s focus outward by exploring the next habit. Are you ready for it?
Habit #5: The exercise of my faith through ministry and service
You are never more like Jesus than when you are serving. Jesus is the ultimate example of servitude. If you ever wonder how you should live, how you should conduct your business, and how you should invest your life, just emulate the life of Christ.
- “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (NIV)
- “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
- “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” Eph 6:7-8 (NIV)
Ministry opportunities abound. Be sensitive to the ministry moments God brings into your view. Sometimes the ministry moments are simply an interruption that becomes an opportunity to meet a practical need. Sometimes the ministry opportunities are long term commitments to employ your spiritual gifts in specific ministry environments through the local church.
Your faith is exercised each time you serve others. It is not natural to give your life away. It is not natural to put the needs of others before your own. Service is supernatural and a by product of an abiding relationship with Jesus.
What are you giving your life to? Are you living to benefit others?
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
0 replies on “Spiritual Toolbox (5)”
Thanks for the reminder, “that an interruption can be turned into a ministry opportunity”. I catch myself sometimes complaining about interruptions in my life, when I should be taking advantage of the situation that is before me. Have a good week Bro. Stephen and Stay Vertical!